The Dynasties of the Kanarese Districts of the Bombay Presidency from the Earliest Historical Times to the Musalman Conquest c8.s12.161

Language: English

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A vivid account of the kingdom of Pulikêśin II., written while he was at the zenith of his power, and probably in A. D. 639, after the date of the Aihole inscription, is given by the Chinese pilgrim Hiuen Tsiang, who travelled in India between A. D. 629 and 645. This person visited the court of Ho-li-sha-fa-t'an-na, otherwise called Shi-lo-o-t'ie-to, i.e. of Harshavardhana-Silâditya of Kanauj; and he describes, and apparently visited, one of the leading cities of the country of Mo-ho-la-ch'a, i.e. Mahârâshtra, the name of the king of which is given by him as Pu-lo-ki-she. And his account is as follows:—"This country is about 5000 li in circuit. The capital borders on the west on a great river. It is about 30 li round. The soil is rich and fertile; it is regularly cultivated and very productive. The climate is hot; the disposition of the people is honest and simple; they are tall of stature, and of a stern, vindictive character. To their benefactors they are grateful; to their enemies relentless. If they are insulted, they will risk their life to avenge themselves. If they are asked to help one in distress, they will forget themselves in their haste to render assistance. If they are going to seek revenge, they first give their enemy warning; then, each being armed, they attack each other with lances (spears). When one turns to flee, the other pursues him, but they do not kill a man down (a person who submits).

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If a general loses a battle, they do not inflict punishment, but present him with woman's clothes, and so he is driven to seek death for himself. The country provides for a band of champions to the number of several hundred. Each time they are about to engage in conflict they intoxicate themselves with wine, and then one man with lance in hand will meet ten thousand and challenge them in fight. If one of these champions meets a man and kills him, the laws of the country do not punish him. Every time they go forth, they beat drums before them. Moreover, they inebriate many hundred heads of elephants, and taking them out to fight, they themselves first drink their wine, and then rushing forward in mass, they trample everything down, so that no enemy can stand before them. The king, in consequence of his possessing these men and elephants, treats his neighbours with contempt. He is of the Kshattriya caste, and his name is Pulakêśi (Pu-lo-ki-she). His plans and undertakings are wide-spread, and his beneficent actions are felt over a great distance. His subjects obey him with perfect submission. At the present time Silâditya Mahârâja³ has conquered the nations from east to west, and carried his arms to remote districts, but the people of this country alone have not submitted to him.

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He has gathered troops from the five Indies, and summoned the best leaders from all countries, and himself gone at the head of his army to punish and subdue these people, but he has not yet conquered their troops. So much for their habits. The men are fond of learning, and study both heretical and orthodox (books). There are about 100 sanghârâmas, with 5000 or so priests. They practise both the Great and Small Vehicle.¹ There are about 100 Déva temples, in which very many heretics of different persuasions dwell. Within and without the capital are five stûpas to mark the spots where the four past Buddhas walked and sat. They were built by Asôka-râja. There are, besides these, other stûpas made of brick or stone, so many that it would be difficult to name them all. Not far to the south of the city is a sanghârâma in which is a stone image of Kwan-tsz'-tsai Bôdhisattva. Its spiritual powers extend (far and wide), so that many of those who have secretly prayed to it have obtained their wishes. On the eastern frontier of the country is a great mountain with towering crags and a continuous stretch of piled-up rocks and scarped precipice. In this there is a sanghârâma constructed, in a dark valley. Its lofty halls and deep side-aisles stretch through the (or open into the) face of the rocks.

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Storey above storey they are backed by the crag and face the valley (water-course).² This convent was built by the Arhat Achâra (O'-che-lo).³ Going from this 1000 li or so to the west,⁴ and crossing the Nai-mo-to (Narmadâ) river, we arrive at the kingdom of Po-lu-kie-che-po (Bharukachheva; Barygaza or Bharôch). There can be no doubt that the latter part of the preceding description refers to the rock-cut Buddhist caves in the glen near Ajantâ in the Nizâm's Dominions;⁵ the towering crags, the piled up rocks and scarped precipice, the dark valley, and the lofty halls and deep side-aisles, facing the valley, and backed storey above storey by the crags, represent most closely the surroundings of the Ajantâ caves, and apparently those of no other in any admissible locality. But, as regards the town which Hiuen Tsiang has spoken of as the capital, there has been considerable speculation. Now, the real capital of the Western Chalukya dynasty was, as we have seen, Bâdâmi. Its surroundings, however, do not answer to the description given by the Chinese pilgrim; and also, it is under any circumstances inadmissible, because its distance from Broach, 435 miles, is altogether incommensurate with the distance of 1000 li or about 167 miles, which is specified by him as the distance from the so-called capital.